SPJIMR alumnus shares how a strong peer network and values-based learning shaped his leadership journey
SPJIMR Marketing and Communications Dept.
Anupam Sarda’s career story is a captivating reflection of how values-based education, lifelong friendships, and alumni networks can serve as the bedrock for long-term success. Currently Senior Vice President of Product, Growth & Operations at e6data, a data infrastructure company that focuses on high-performance analytics for modern enterprises, Anupam credits his accomplishments to the groundwork laid during his stint at SPJIMR.
Before joining e6data, Anupam held a leadership role in product at HighRadius, a leading fintech company. Anupam’s transition to this role at HighRadius didn’t happen through traditional job applications or recruiter calls. Instead, it was an unassuming, serendipitous catch-up with a batchmate. “I was working with KPMG when a batchmate from SPJIMR reached out. We met, caught up, and one thing led to another. Within three months, I was working at HighRadius. That instance reminded me why the alumni network is so influential. It’s not just professional; it’s profoundly personal,” he shares.
Since then, Anupam has paid it forward. Over the past few years, he has helped bring on board at least five other SPJIMR alumni from different programmes, each of whom has flourished and now holds a leadership role within the organisation. “This isn’t just networking. This is family away from family.”
Learning to unlearn and collaborate
Anupam joined the Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) at SPJIMR with five years of prior work experience. Like countless mid-career professionals, he had developed a sense of how things operated. But SPJIMR defied those conventions.
“One of the major lessons for me was learning to unlearn. We entered the programme with our own fixed style of working but realised soon enough that real development occurs when you collaborate with teams and people across diverse outlooks.“
Reflecting on his return to academics after several years of work, Anupam also admits he was unsure at first whether he would be able to keep up. But the immersive and supportive learning environment at SPJIMR helped him rediscover his academic confidence.
SPJIMR’s exceptional pedagogy, highlighting values-based decision-making, group work, and stakeholder inclusion, had a long-lasting influence. SPJIMR’s unique group-based assessment reinforced the point that true accomplishment is not individual; it’s collective. Anupam recalls how students’ grades were often dependent on how well the entire group performed, further encouraging collaboration and shared accountability.
“You begin to understand that success isn’t about the individual but the group. It’s about moving forward as a team and ensuring all stakeholders are taken care of. That’s a mindset I’ve carried throughout my career.“
Holistic immersion and epiphanies
While the rigour of the programme was plain, Anupam recalls how many of the lessons only revealed their true impact in the years that followed. He believes that the true impact of the programme often becomes clear only in hindsight. It’s only when professionals begin leading teams and solving real-world problems that they start recognising how case studies, group projects, and even late-night classroom debates helped shape their approach to thinking and decision-making.
The hands-on learning experiences, immersion projects, and strong faculty involvement all added up to what he now understands as a holistic transformation. The learnings at SPJIMR don’t expire with graduation. They evolve with you.
Advice to future students: Don’t stress too much about placements
One of the key pieces of advice Anupam offers to current and future students is not to over-fixate on placements. “Yes, it’s important, but a lot of it averages out. What really matters is the friendships you build, the learning, and the quality of time you spend on the Mumbai campus. These bonds will be with you for life.”
Anupam emphasises the importance of forming strong, personal relationships. SPJIMR gives you the opportunity to build a real support system and leverage the true power of a network. Make the most of it, he advises.
Looking back, Anupam’s mantra is simple: Life will always bring quizzes, deadlines, and interviews, but don’t forget to enjoy the moment. This time will never come back.
Key takeaways for career growth and leadership
With over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, fintech, and enterprise solutions, Anupam shares some key competencies that have supported him in his career:
Learning agility
Teamwork and empathy
Long-term thinking
Values-driven leadership
He also believes that staying open to opportunities and fostering your network with care can reveal surprising new paths.
A career built on community, trust and learning
One of Anupam’s most precious memories is staying up the night before a finance exam, teaching 25 of his peers how to do balance sheet adjustments and discounted cash flows. The experience not only strengthened his grasp of the subject but also reflected the deeply collaborative spirit of the batch.
Anupam’s story demonstrates the long-lasting impact of the PGPM programme at SPJIMR. Whether it’s the friendships or the simple joy of reconnecting with a batchmate who ends up opening the next door in your career, SPJIMR continues to shape lives long after graduation.
For future leaders looking to grow not just professionally, but also personally, here is a reminder: education is not just about knowledge; it’s about values, community, and the ability to lift others as you rise.